‘Follow Wendolyn, a first-time author, as she discovers that behind the cosplay, panels, and raven companions, lies something far darker than she ever dreamed. When stories come alive, the fair becomes more than a celebration of fantasy—it becomes a reckoning.’Today we read ‘Welcome to the Fantasy Fair’ written by Marissa Mcnamara, and published by Pink Hydra Press in their August 2024 issue. Marissa gave me permission to read this story on the podcast, and Pink Hydra Press was gracious and gave me their blessing! What results is a captivating story of achievement and dissolution, and a reminder to never meet your heroes. Thank you Marissa and thank you Pink Hydra Press!Marrissa’s Links: https://mmcnamarabooks.com/?page_id=34https://www.instagram.com/m_mcnamara_books/The Pink Hydra Press:Welcome to the Fantasy Fair: https://www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/0102202408/Website:https://www.thepinkhydra.com/Submissions Closed for 2025 - Check Here for 2026 Submissions: https://www.thepinkhydra.com/submissions/Marissa’s Interview Episode: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marissa-mcnamara-author-interview/id1717470807?i=1000714123228Murderfish Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikejackstoumbos/murderfish-a-wonderbird-press-anthologyUnhelpful Encyclopedia Audible Links: MurderBirdsMurderBugsVoice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Folks, today we talk with Kim Green, Owner of Blank Page Consulting, and Author of Books like Vicissitudes, Hallucination, and Isolation - the last of which is our topic of discussion today. We start by talking about Kim’s writing experience and history, then delve into the raw and political commentary of her book Isolation, a soul-bearing collection of blogs written during the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic that are revisited with poignant postscript in 2023. This is a very political episode due to the nature of the content of Isolation, but I encourage you to listen through our conversation, if only just to hear our perspectives. We touch on race in America, Anti-Racist works, advocacy, masculinity, and other hot button topics. Isolation is a powerful mix of storytelling and conversation that reflects the despair and hopelessness felt by many in this country, yet inspires the reader towards hope, possibility, imperfection, and connection. Thanks again for the amazing conversation, Kim!Kim’s Links: https://www.amazon.com/Isolation-Blogs-Musings-Memories-changed/dp/1665308133https://www.wordsllc.com/https://www.instagram.com/kimgreenauthor/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/kimgreenwords/https://www.facebook.com/blankpageconsult/Kim’s T-Lokes Episode: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kim-green-blank-page-consulting/id1725751207?i=1000710865045Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YVHJPGJqkEv9FcP3kMX97?si=ba3b46e6b0ad4566Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Folks today we talk with David Hankins, a prolific award winning author who has been featured in dozens of magazines and anthologies, as well as creating the Grimsworld Series. We talk about David’s inspirations for his works, which tend to be lighthearted fantasy and sci-fi tales. Dive in and discover how the headaches and humor of bureaucratic mismanagement inspired David to write a series. David is also featured in every installment of The Unhelpful Encyclopedia Series and we discuss inspirations for his stories, and how audiobook and artistic interpretations deepen the storytelling experience. Thanks a ton for the Interview David!David’s Links: Website: https://davidhankins.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/DavidHankins.AuthorIG: https://www.instagram.com/_davidhankins/DreamForge Article “Writing Resilience”: https://dreamforgemagazine.com/story/writing-resilience/“A Properly Spiced Gingerbread”: https://www.castofwonders.org/2024/12/cast-of-wonders-619-a-properly-spiced-gingerbread/Books Links:How to Write a Howling Good Story: https://books2read.com/howlinggoodstoryKickstarter for Authors: https://amzn.to/45NATr7Anthologies mentioned (Unhelpful Encyclopedia, Writers of the Future, etc.) available at https://davidhankins.com)Award-winning illustrator Sarah Morrison: https://sarahmorrisonillustration.com/WindyCon 7-9 Nov (Chicago): https://www.windycon.org/QuadCon 7 Sept (Dubuque): https://quadcitycon.com/Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Folks today we talk with Michael La Ronn, a prolific sci-fi and fantasy writer, youtuber, and owner of Author Level Up. We talk about Michael’s experience with the Murderfish Anthology, how he found his writing style, and how he became the writer he is today. We discuss the differences between writing to teach, and writing to entertain. Dive in, and hear how authenticity, passion, spontaneity, and a can-do attitude have been core tenants in Michael’s writing journey. Michael’s Links: Author Level Up - https://authorlevelup.com/www.authorlevelup.com/pantsingSocial Media and YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@AuthorLevelUp/videoshttps://www.facebook.com/authorleveluphttps://x.com/michaellaronnThe Good Necromancerwww.michaellaronn.com/thegoodnecromancerMichael’s Podcastwww.selfpublishingadvice.orgEventshttps://atlantawritersclub.org/www.superstarswritingseminar.comVoice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Listeners, we have another author interview for you! Today we talk to Jake Stein, a prolific fiction short story writer who’s had quite a few publications in the past years. We dive into Jake’s inspirations, his approach to writing, and how sometimes the hard hitting stories don’t explode, but burn slowly. Jake’s writing has also been brought to the audio space on a handful of podcasts, including this one! Thanks Jake for coming on the show and sharing your approach to writing, and how to persist in the short story writing space. “Real Food” Episode of CRB - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-food-jake-stein-murderfish-kickstarter/id1717470807?i=1000708997378Murderfish Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikejackstoumbos/murderfish-a-wonderbird-press-anthologyUnhelpful Encyclopedia Audible Links: MurderBirdsMurderFishJake’s Links: https://bsky.app/profile/jakeiswriting.bsky.socialhttps://storiesbystein.wordpress.com/https://storiesbystein.substack.com/WorldCon Seattle 2025https://seattlein2025.org/Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Listeners, today we dive into one of Connor’s favorite H.P. Lovecraft Stories - The Rats in the Walls. A story of an older man who’s knowledge of his family’s past is Dubious at best, that is until his son is shipped off to fight the great war, and comes back with knowledge of their ancestral home - Exam Priory. Our protagonist moves to the priory, learning of its troubled past, and is at once haunted by the ghosts of the isolated castle. Content Warnings: Gore, Rats,Violence, Coarse Language, Horrors Beyond ComprehensionVoice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Howdy Listeners, we have another author interview for you! Today we talk to Marissa McNamara, a fantasy and sci-fi writer based in Brisbane, Australia. We talk about how she got into writing, her process, her perspective, and her plans for the future! In celebration of the Murderfish kickstarter, we are going to be interviewing some of the authors that have contributed to Anthology. Thanks for being the first Marissa!!Marissa’s Links: https://mmcnamarabooks.com/https://mmcnamarabooks.com/?page_id=34https://www.instagram.com/m_mcnamara_books/Welcome to the Fantasy Fair: https://www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/0102202408/fantasyfair/The Pink Hydra: https://www.thepinkhydra.com/issues/0102202408/The Furious Gazelle: https://thefuriousgazelle.com/2024/10/31/2024-halloween-contest-winner-the-haunted-library-by-m-mcnamara/#more-3291Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Get your feet wet with this preview story from "Murderfish," the third installment of the Unhelpful Encyclopedia series, from WonderBird Press. "Real Food," by Jake Stein, is the sci-fi tale of a vegan chef brought to the Earth office of a powerful businessman—with a chilling request.“Murderfish” is still in its kickstarter phase and is looking for more backers! So if you liked this short story, and want to reel in some more great aquatic tales, head over to the kickstarter and help make this book possible.Murderfish Kickstarter Links: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikejackstoumbos/murderfish-a-wonderbird-press-anthologyUnhelpful Encyclopedia Prior Volumes:Volume 1 - Murderbirds: An Avian AnthologyVolume 2 - Murderbugs: An Arthropod AnthologyOther Unhelpful Encyclopedia CRB Episodes: Episode 8: “Polly Want an Apple” - Mike Jack StoumbousEpisode 17: “Fangs Out” - Victoria DixonVoice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/

Connor Reads Books is returning for its 2025 season! Today we are kicking it off with “Fangs Out” , a short story from the book Murderbugs. Fangs Out: Private detective A. Sin, the assassin bug, is hired to investigate disturbances around the Portmanteau, an apartment building on the nice side of the yard. What comes next is an intricate web to untangle, with prominent bugs caught up in the plot. Will our anthropoid sleuth crack the case, or will the portmanteau be his final resting place?Murderbugs is part 2 of the “Unhelpful Encyclopedia” anthology series published by Wonderbird Press. It is a crowdfunded collaboration of talented storyteller’s weaving daring stories of fantasy, danger, and fiction, all coming together to honor the theme of the book - which in this case, is bugs.Listen to the Full Episode Here:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connor-reads-books/id1717470807Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GpcirNgVdYm12QcAsLDGYContent Warnings: ArachniphobiaMurderBitesExsanguination Restrained/ BoundVictoria’s Links: FB https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaLDixon/Website https://www.victorialeadixon.comMurderbugs LinksAudiobook on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Murderbugs-Audiobook/B0DGB4TGY7Audiobook on Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/murderbugs-an-arthropod-anthology-unhelpful/id1767078861Buy the Text Version: https://www.amazon.com/Murderbugs-Arthropod-Anthology-Unhelpful-Encyclopedia-ebook/dp/B0D2RQPYGHWonderbird Press:https://www.patreon.com/WonderBirdPressVoice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - Websitehttps://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665https://www.fiverr.com/s/669RvbMusic Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/